Wreck of Elease - Northumberland & Northeast

The Elease wreck, sitting off the Northumberland coast, is one of those dives that sticks with you, even if it’s not always sunshine and flat seas. We’ve done it when the visibility was a bit soupy, and still found it captivating. What makes it special isn’t just the history – she was sunk by a German U-boat in 1917 – but how the North Sea has reclaimed her. Drop down and you're instantly in a different world. The wreck is quite broken up, but you can still make out the stern section, propellers, and parts of the engine room. It’s not about penetration here, more about tracing the lines of the hull and seeing the structure that once plied these waters. Conger eels are almost guaranteed, tucked into every nook and cranny, their heads poking out with that characteristic wary stare. We’ve also found plumose anemones, their fluffy white tentacles swaying gently in the mild currents, covering huge sections of the metalwork. For experienced cold water wreck divers who appreciate history and the tough, resilient marine life of the UK, the Elease is a proper reward. Our best dives have been on a slack tide, with a slight northerly breeze making for a calm surface.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

54.840680, -5.121747

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Morroch Bay